Clinical Practice Library

The Clinical Practice Library houses all of A.S.P.E.N.'s important resources. These are available by linking directly to A.S.P.E.N. journals where they are published.

This collection of resources have been developed by volunteer A.S.P.E.N. leaders and content experts and approved by the A.S.P.E.N. Board of Directors. These documents include clinical guidelines, standards, consensus recommendations, position papers, shortage management recommendations and, special reports.

Clinical Guidelines

Clinical Guidelines are systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate nutrition care for specific clinical circumstances. (Institute of Medicine) Clinical Guidelines define the role of specific diagnostic and treatment modalities in the diagnosis and management of patients. Clinical Guidelines contain recommendations that are based on evidence from a rigorous systematic review and evaluation of the published medical literature. These guidelines may include categories outlined by the National Guideline ClearinghouseTM such as screening, evaluation, assessment of therapeutic effectiveness, management, rehabilitation, risk assessment, technology assessment, or treatment relating either to a specific disease or condition or to a therapy.

Clinical Practice Toolkits

Clinical Practice Toolkits are stocked full of practice resources, educational tools, links and videos. These toolkits will continue to be developed as a focused way of organizing important clinical nutrition material. They are dynamic and a great way for busy clinicians to find all the multi-media tools they need on a specific topic.

Consensus Recommendations

These documents answer questions for which the level of evidence in the literature did not support any GRADE-level recommendations. These documents address questions about a nutrition practice topic using weaker supporting literature and expert opinion and consensus recommendations as well as identify areas for future research. These recommendations are not clinical guidelines as defined by A.S.P.E.N. The need to deliver practice information to clinicians, even when it is of a consensus nature from practice experts, remains an important role of A.S.P.E.N.

Product Shortage Recommendations

These product shortage recommendations, developed by the Clinical Practice Committee Shortage Subcommittee and approved by the Board of Directors, help clinicians manage parenteral nutrition therapy during this time of product shortages.

Special Reports

This is a catch-all category for documents that present A.S.P.E.N. generated clinical, research, or public policy information or findings that are important for A.S.P.E.N. constituents and do not fall into any of the other categories.

Standards

Standards are benchmarks representing a range of performance of competent care that should be provided to assure safe and efficacious nutrition care. Standards are documents that define the structure needed to provide competent care. They usually address professional responsibilities as they relate to patient assessment, education, care plan development, implementation, clinical monitoring, evaluation, and professional issues. A.S.P.E.N. publishes discipline-based (e.g., dietitian, nurse, pharmacist, or physician) and practice-based (e.g., adult hospitalized patients, pediatric hospitalized patients, home care, long-term care) standards. Standards are presented in the most generic terms possible. The details of specific tests, therapies, and protocols are left to the discretion of individual healthcare facilities. Each healthcare facility shall strive to provide the best nutrition support care that is possible given the resources of the organization. The standards aim to assure sound and efficient nutrition care for those in need of nutrition support therapy.Browse A.S.P.E.N.’s Standards

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A.S.P.E.N. Endorsed Documents

A.S.P.E.N. endorses these key resources from other organizations that are in line with our mission and scope of practice.

Access to the Evidence Analysis Library (EAL®), from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

The EAL® is an online library featuring topics of interest to practitioners in an evidence-based format. It is a synthesis of the most relevant nutritional research on important clinical practice questions housed within an accessible online, user-friendly library. There are 2 main parts to this online resource: Evidence Analysis Library.

If you are a current A.S.P.E.N. member you have complimentary access to this powerful tool!